Mount Martha

Population growth drivers in Mount Martha are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, Mount Martha's population is estimated at around 20,298. This reflects an increase of 452 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,846. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 20,166 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and an additional 103 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 671 persons per square kilometer. Mount Martha's growth rate of 2.3% since the census positions it within 0.8 percentage points of the SA4 region (3.1%). Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb, with an expected expansion of 3,188 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 15.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Mount Martha recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers derived from statistical area data, Mount Martha has experienced approximately 67 dwellings receiving development approval per year. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, around 339 homes were approved, with an additional 12 approved so far in FY-26. This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering greater buyer choice while potentially supporting population growth above projections.

The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these five years was approximately 0.5. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $1,722,000, suggesting that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. In terms of commercial development, $10.1 million in approvals have been recorded for FY-26, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Mount Martha has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and places among the 49th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity shows that approximately 72.0% are standalone homes and 28.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 330 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Mount Martha is expected to grow by 3,056 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Mount Martha has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Seven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. Key projects include Mount Martha North Foreshore Toilet Renewal, Briars Wildlife Sanctuary Expansion, Briars Class A Recycled Water Project, and Mount Martha Village Parking and Footpath Upgrade, Watson Road. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Mount Martha rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Mount Martha has an educated workforce with prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.5% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.3%. The area's unemployment rate is 3.1% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%, but its workforce participation is lower at 60.5%. Residents are primarily employed in health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing has lower representation at 2.1% compared to the regional average of 5.2%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, labour force by 4.7%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Mount Martha. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Martha's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Mount Martha had a median taxpayer income of $53,074 and an average of $82,981 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is notably higher than Greater Melbourne's median income of $54,892 and average income of $73,761 during the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,528 (median) and $93,071 (average), based on a 12.16% increase since financial year 2022 as per the Wage Price Index growth. The 2021 Census data shows that Mount Martha's incomes cluster around the 65th percentile nationally. Income distribution indicates that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 29.7% of residents (6,028 people). This is consistent with broader metropolitan trends, where 32.8% fall into the same category. Economic strength is evident with 32.4% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, which supports elevated consumer spending. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 86.7% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Mount Martha is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Mount Martha's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.3% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 85.5% houses and 14.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Martha was at 43.9%, aligned with Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (43.5%) or rented (12.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Mount Martha was $2,167, higher than Melbourne's average of $1,989. Median weekly rent in Mount Martha was $496, compared to Melbourne metro's $380. Nationally, Mount Martha's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Mount Martha features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 78.2% of all households, including 37.5% couples with children, 31.1% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up 21.8%, with lone person households at 20.8% and group households comprising 1.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.4.

Mount Martha shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in Mount Martha trail regional benchmarks indicate that 29.3% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to Greater Melbourne's 37.0%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (14.4%) and certificates (21.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.9% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education. Mount Martha's four schools have a combined enrollment reaching 2,189 students while the area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1089). The educational mix includes two primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (10.8) fall below the regional average (14.3), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas. Note that where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Mount Martha has 76 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 1,349 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is considered good, with residents on average being located 341 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 192 daily trips, which equates to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Mount Martha are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Martha's health indicators show below-average outcomes, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (12,087 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.1 and 7.7% of residents respectively. A higher proportion, 67.7%, declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Melbourne's 63.9%. Mount Martha has a lower percentage of residents aged 65 and over at 26.6% (5,399 people) compared to Greater Melbourne's 29.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in Mount Martha are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Mount Martha ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Martha has a lower than average level of cultural diversity, with 79.1% of its population born in Australia, 91.2% being citizens, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mount Martha, comprising 47.1% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Mount Martha compared to Greater Melbourne, with 0.3% versus 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups in Mount Martha are English (34.1%), Australian (25.8%), and Irish (9.7%). There are also notable differences in the representation of Scottish (9.5% vs regional 9.0%), Dutch (1.9% vs 1.8%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.6%) ethnic groups.

Mount Martha hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Mount Martha is 46 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and also exceeds Australia's median age of 38 years. Comparing with Greater Melbourne, the proportion of people aged 75-84 is notably higher in Mount Martha at 10.7%, while those aged 25-34 are underrepresented at 4.9%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of people aged 75 to 84 has increased from 8.4% to 10.7%, while the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 has risen from 11.4% to 13.3%. Conversely, the percentages of those aged 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 have decreased to 9.3% and 13.5%, respectively, from 11.3% and 14.6%. By 2041, Mount Martha's population is projected to undergo significant demographic changes. The number of people aged 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 1,335 individuals (61%), from 2,171 to 3,507. This growth reflects an aging population trend, with those aged 65 and above comprising 79% of the projected growth. Conversely, the populations aged 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 are anticipated to decline.